Cloning And Biotechnology

Question 1

what is cloning a form of

Answer 1

asexual reproduction which results in offspring produced by mitosis

Question 2

natural cloning is also referred to as

Answer 2

vegetative propagation

Question 3

vegetative propagation occurs in

Answer 3

bulbs
suckers
rhizomes
tubers
runners and stolons

Question 4

process of taking cuttings

Answer 4

1. cut a shoot from a healthy plant at a slanted angle between 2 nodes using a sharp blade
2. remove the leaves from the shoot but leave one at the tip
3. dip the cutting in rooting powder and place into soil and add water, the rooting powder contains hormones which stimulate growth
   make sure not to overwater as oxygen cannot diffuse to the root cell for aerobic respiration
4. cover the cutting with a plastic bag to reduce water loss through transpiration

Question 5

what is horticulture

Answer 5

cultivation for gardens

Question 7

artificial cloning in plants includes

Answer 7

micropropagation and tissue culture

Question 8

what is micropropagation

Answer 8

it is the process of making large number of genetically identical offspring from a single parent using tissue culture techniques, it is used to produce plants when a desirable plant does not readily produce seeds pr doesn’t respond well to natural cloning

Question 9

process of micropropagation

Answer 9

1. small sample of tissue from desired plant
2. sterilise the sample using sterilising agents such as bleach, explant is removed ( material removed from the plant)
3. explant is placed in sterile culture medium containing hormones which stimulate mitosis.
   the cells proliferate forming callus (mass of identical cells)
4. callus is divided up and individual cells from the callus are transferred to a new culture medium containing hormones which stimulate the development of plantlets
5. plantlets are potted into compost where they grow into small plants
6. young plants are planted out to grow and produce a crop

Question 10

pros and cons of plant cloning

Answer 10

Pros of plant cloning:

Can be carried out independently of the seasons – sexual reproduction can only take plant when the plant is fertile (usually the spring and summer months)

Any desirable characteristics in the parent plant will be replicated in the cloned plants.

Requires less space than conventional growing methods.

Quick and inexpensive.

Cons of plant cloning:

Clones are genetically identical so equally vulnerable to changes in the environment e.g., disease or drought.

Plants growing in tissue culture could die if they are infected by pathogenic microorganisms.

Any undesirable characteristics in the parent plant will be replicated in the cloned offspring.

High production costs due to the energy required and training.

Question 11

natural cloning in animals

Answer 11

formation of identical twins - monozygotic twins

Question 12

what are the two types of artificial cloning

Answer 12

1. artificial twinning
2. stomatic cell nucleus transfer

Question 13

explain the process of artificial twinning

Answer 13

1. cow with desirable traits are treated with hormones making the super ovulate and release more ova
2. ova naturally fertilise and the embryo is flushed out pf the uterus
3. mature eggs removed and fertilised by semen from the bull
4. day 6, cells are totipotent and cells of early embryo split to produce smaller embryos
5. each split embryo is grown in the lab for a few days before being implanted into surrogate mother
6. embryo develops into a foetus and is born

Question 14

explain the process of stomatic cell nucleus transfer

Answer 14

1. the nucleus is removed from the stomatic cell of an adult and animal
2. the nucleus is removed and is enucleated
3. the nucleus from the adult stomatic cell is placed into a enucleated ovum and is given mild electric shocks so that it fuses and begins to divide.
4. embryo developed is transferred into the uterus of the animal where it develops, the new animal is the clone of the animal where the original stomatic cell is dervied

Question 15

pros and cons of animal cloning

Answer 15

Animal cloning has the following advantages:

Can be used to reproduce infertile animals

Preserves biodiversity to increasing the population of endangered species

Can take plant independently of breeding seasons

Can lead to the development of new drugs to treat human diseases.

Any desirable traits in the parent will be present in the clone – this is particularly useful in agriculture.

..and the following disadvantages:

Cloned animals can have developmental problems

Reduces the gene pool - this means there isn’t much genetic differences between organisms, making them equally vulnerable to a certain disease

It is expensive, labour-intensive, and time-consuming

Religious/ethical considerations - do humans have the right to create life?

The use of cloned human embryos as a source of stem cells is controversial — some believe that by destroying an embryo, you are destroying a human life.

Question 16

what is biotechnology

Answer 16

applying biological organisms/ enzymes to the synthesis, breakdown and transformation of materials in the service of people

Question 17

what is bioremediation

Answer 17

use of biological systems to remove soil and water pollution

Question 18

uses of microorganisms

Answer 18

• low energy requirements
• short life cycles and fast reproduction
• nutrient required for growth are cheap and easy to obtain
• low pollution and low cost due to low energy requirement
• do not take up land space
• do not have any ethical problems

Question 19

what are the biotechnological processes

Answer 19

1. brewing
2. baking
3. making cheese
4. making yoghurt
5. making penicillin
6. making insulin
7. bioremediation
8. mycoprotein production

Question 20

advantages and disadvantages to using microorganisms in food production

Answer 20

The advantages of using microorganisms for food production:

Microorganisms can be grown quickly and cheaply. Since they require simple growth conditions (warm temperatures, glucose, suitable pH), production costs are low.

Compared to rearing livestock for food, microorganisms require less space.

Protein produced by microbes e.g. Quorn is often healthier than meat.

Can be grown in any climate and at any time of the year.

Microorganisms are often grown on waste material, such as molasses. It’s a good way of getting rid of unwanted waste products.

The disadvantages of using microorganisms for food production:

Protein produced by microbes doesn’t have the same taste or texture as meat products.

People may not like the idea of eating something grown on waste products.

Contamination with other microorganisms can spoil the food or lead to health risks.

Consumption of large quantities of protein produced from microorganisms can lead to high uric acid levels, due to the breakdown of excess amino acids.

Question 21

read textboook for 22.6 and 22,7

Question 23

advantages of using isolated enzymes

Answer 23

• less waste
• more efficient
• more specific
• maximises efficiency
• less downstream processing, more purer products

Question 24

what are immobolised enzymes

Question 25

advantages and disadvantages of immobilised enzymes

Answer 25

The advantages of immobilising enzymes are: The enzyme can be reused – this keeps costs down. No separation/purification of the enzyme and product is required – this also reduces costs. The enzyme is protected by the surface it’s attached to – this makes it less likely to denature. But there are also a few disadvantages: Compared to free enzymes, they’re more expensive. Reaction rates can sometimes be lower since the enzyme cannot move around and freely mix with the substrate. Extra equipment may be needed, which increases costs.

Question 26

how are enzymes immobilised

Answer 26

adsorption, enzymes are attached to a carrier using weak forces entrapment in a matrix which is often silica gel, substrates and products can pass through the gel structure but enzyme remains trapped and separated membrane separation, enzymes are contained within a partially permeable membrane and the substrates and products can pass through, enzymes cant and it remains separated cross linking, enzymes are covalently bonded to a carrier and less likely to come unbound than using adsorption

Question 27

examples of immobilised enzymes

Answer 27

- glucose isomerase to convert glucose into fructose - penicillin acylase for the formation of semi synthetic peniciilin - lactase for the hydrolysis of lactose to glucose and galactose - aminocyclase for the production of pure samples of L amino acids